"America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand" President Harry S. Truman Platform Committee Officers Chair: Jalen Anderson Vice Chair: Megan Ellyia Green Secretary: Nanda Nunnelly Sparks 1
This document is adopted by the Missouri Democratic State Committee to serve as the platform of the Missouri Democratic Party from 2018 through the 2020 election cycle. While it is the responsibility of candidates to articulate their own policy positions when engaging with voters, this platform lays out the positions of the Missouri Democratic Party, and shapes the direction of our future. I. Our Economy Democrats recognize that to grow our Missouri economy we must support our local farms, keep manufacturing jobs in Missouri, and help small businesses to grow. We support: Agriculture - The Family Farm is the keystone of our society and must be preserved. We support: The preservation and protection of farmland through soil conservation and sustainable ecological practices. Maintaining and growing family farms and ranches through the provision of access to farm credit at reasonable terms and interest rates, including temporary relief during economic or climate related emergencies The economic well-being of rural communities through the preservation of small businesses and family farms and fair agricultural prices. Cooperative and marketing systems structured for the financial security of producers and the improvement of products. 2
Promoting fair tariff and subsidy practices, restoring fair pricing to all markets and meet the cost of production. A Farmer s Bill of Rights for Protecting the rights of Missouri's local communities to retain their own land from big corporations and foreign businesses. Supporting adequate crop insurance, good land use and planning that protects prime agricultural land. Manufacturing - We support: Sustaining and expanding products that are made in Missouri. The nearly 10% of Missouri's workforce who is currently employed in manufacturing. Making Missouri competitive by allowing companies to invest in our state's future. Small Business - We support: - Bringing back our main streets by supporting and growing local businesses Giving small business owners the chance to expand and grow with government investment opportunities that will build a skilled workforce. Business and Community Development - Missouri businesses in cooperation with working people can create economic prosperity. It is the role of government to encourage and regulate business in order to create economic opportunity for all. We support: 3
Reasonable regulations that encourage fair competition, ensure safety, environmental and labor standards, and prevent price discrimination. Community reinvestment to promote local business and home ownership. Small business development, especially ownership by members of economically disadvantaged groups, including the expansion of minority and women owned business requirements for government contracts. Economic investment in economically distressed regions or industries. Responsible use of economic development funds. Affordable housing for all Missourians, including assistance to local governments to promote mixed-income housing opportunities and the preservation of Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Historical Housing Credits. The ability of counties and local municipalities to set stricter standards than those required by the state for land use and local development, and enact local zoning ordinances to protect the health and well-being of people in their communities. II. Labor Democrats recognize that for Missouri to have a skilled labor force it must have strong labor unions that will teach, defend, and sustain the worker for Missouri's economy. We support: 4
The Prevailing Wage and reject any legislative attempt to repeal or reduce said laws The rejection and denouncement of any attempt to reduce wages and/or benefits of Missouri workers. Promoting the American labor movement and the rights of all workers. Protecting the rights of all workers to organize and bargain collectively. Establishing universal childcare and paid maternity leave for both parents. Developing programs to promote full employment. Requiring priority hiring for all Missourians when jobs are created using state/local tax incentives, including in development projects. Repealing of so called "Right to Work" laws and opposing all future attempts at passing such laws. Legislation that will defend our Labor Unions and expand labor rights. Ensuring adequate compensation for injured workers. Equal Pay for Equal Work initiatives and the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment. Defending the Minimum Wage, the right of local municipalities to set local minimum wages. 5
Raising the minimum wage to $15/hour and ensure that anyone who works full-time in Missouri earns wages above the poverty level. Raising wages for all Missouri public employees. Zero tolerance toward sexual harassment in the workplace. III. Health Care Missouri Democrats believe that access to healthcare is a fundamental right and not a privilege. We support: Sustaining and expanding the Affordable Care Act. Expanding Medicaid and bringing Missouri tax dollars back to our state. The full restoration of the Missouri RX program, increasing price transparency by requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose information on price hikes, and a ban on pharmaceutical companies from giving physicians gifts. 6
Creating a comprehensive Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, that gives prescribers the tools they need to prevent "doctor shopping" and reduce opioid addiction and deaths. The Social Security Medical Benefit, Medicaid and Medicare. A woman s right to choose and the right of every person to their own bodily autonomy and to be free from government intrusion in medical decisions, including a decision to carry a pregnancy to term, and oppose any efforts to limit access to reproductive healthcare. A requirement that all Crisis Pregnancy Centers be obligated to provide medically accurate information and be ineligible for state funding if medical professionals are not employed. The development of a single payer, Medicare For All healthcare system. 7
IV. Civil Rights/Human Rights Missouri Democrats believe in equal treatment under the law for every Missourian regardless of race, color, age, physical, intellectual, and/or developmental abilities, economic status, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ethnicity, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Missouri Democrats support adding "sexual orientation and gender identity" to the non-discrimination laws and policies of our state, and the passage of hate crime legislation to protect equal rights. We support: Sustaining the Civil Rights Act at the Federal, State and Local levels. The Black Lives Matter movement and civil rights, the end of institutional racism, and fair and impartial policing. The Federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and oppose discrimination based on immigration status Safe, legal, and humane immigration with a clear and quick process to citizenship. 8
The passage of the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA) to prohibit denying employment or housing to a person based upon their sexual orientation or gender identity. The free speech rights of all Missourians and the rights to organize. The abolition of the death penalty. 9
V. Education Missouri Democrats believe that every child in Missouri should have access to a free, quality, public education regardless of zip code. We support: The public school system and oppose expansion of charter schools and vouchers. A fully funded public-school system foundation formula. Full funding for school meal programs for those in need. Restoring of the five-day school week in school districts that are facing budget shortfalls. Expanding community colleges enrollment opportunities to every Missourian. Affordable colleges at all Missouri's public Universities' with a limit on the amount of student debt that can be incurred. The common goals of Missouri state teachers unions and professional organization to ensure that teachers and students are held to a high standard of education in the state 10
All Dreamers who reside in Missouri and otherwise qualify as in-state residents having the opportunity to attend Missouri universities at the rate of in-state tuition. VI. Environment Missouri Democrats believe that Missouri's natural resources must be protected, and our national and state parks must be maintained. From our lakes and rivers, plains in the North and Ozark Mountains to the South, we must take responsibility for our states natural wonders. We support: Preventing fracking in Missouri, and ending land destruction from fracking from our neighboring states Stopping corporate farms from destroying our land. Stopping all illegal dumping. Strengthening of environmental standards for clean air and water by strong enforcement by state and federal governments. Developing alternative energy sources (solar and wind energy). The ability of local municipalities to institute plastic bag bans, straw bans, and other environmental protections in excess of those required under state and federal laws. 11
VII. Tax and Budget Policy Missouri Democrats believe that to have a strong economy, we must have a tax policy that supports working families. We support: A progressive tax structure with minimal reliance on sales and excise taxes. Exempting senior citizens from paying property taxes if their income does not exceed 125% of the poverty level and they live in a single-family home. Closing corporate tax loopholes to ensure that big businesses pay their fair share. Having a sound fiscal policy and a balanced budget. VIII. Public Safety and Crime Prevention - We advocate for law enforcement policies that protect constitutional rights combined by crime prevention programs that emphasize education, treatment, and health care. We must have a criminal justice system that focuses on rehabilitation, is fair, and works to decrease the number of people who are incarcerated. We support: The protection of victims of crime through the mandatory arrest of domestic abusers, coupled with government funded programs to support victims of abuse. 12
Dignity and safety to all offenders during incarceration. All incarcerated individuals having access to care that meets their medical needs. Considering past physical, sexual and mental trauma in the sentencing process. Elimination of minimum mandatory sentencing and enabling prosecutorial discretion. Shift to treatment, rehabilitation and education to lower the chance of repeat offenders. Reasonable firearm policies that promote public safety and crime prevention without infringing on second amendment rights. Mandatory background checks and 72-hour waiting periods on the purchase of weapons o o An assault weapons ban Keeping daycares, schools, health care providers, churches, and universities as gun-free zones o o Keeping illegal guns off our streets and out of the hands of kids Preventing domestic abusers from owning guns Specific training and accountability for law enforcement agencies to assist staff in recognizing mental health concerns in individuals pending arrest and/or detention. Decriminalization, legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana for adult use. 13
Community policing to ensure that law-enforcement, and their actions, build positive relationships in the communities in which they are policing. Utilization of body cameras for law enforcement. Training for law enforcement to use non-lethal action during arrest or detainment. Abolition of capital punishment, and freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures and surveillance contrary to our constitutional rights. Elimination of jail time as punishment for being behind in paying child support. Jail time may impede a parent's ability to pay, and we support all non-incarceration efforts of the court to collect child support as due. Abolition of the criminalization of poverty through the issuance of excessive fees, tickets, and fines. Full restoration of voting rights for people convicted of crimes, and restoration of their ability to participate in and hold public office after their sentence has been served. IX. Infrastructure: Missouri Democrats know that we must address our crumbling infrastructure and put Missourians to work while creating a 21 st Century infrastructure system. We support: Rebuilding our roads from our highways to our main streets. 14
Rebuilding our bridges across the state. Maintaining our current outlets for energy. While modernizing toward solar and wind power energy. Expanding broadband accessibility to all areas of Missouri. The development of a high-speed rail system. Adequate funding for, and the expansion of, public transportation. Clean drinking water for all Missourians. Improving accessibility to healthcare and emergency services. Updating the Missouri electrical grid. Connecting all Missourians from our Urban cities to our rural communities with the promise of state-wide equality with this infrastructure program. X. Governmental Accountability to the Public - We pledge to protect the rights of all citizens through fair elections, responsible government, and decreasing the influence of special interests in our political process to ensure that people, not large corporations and special interests, control our elections. We support: Campaign finance reform, including: o A fair public financing option for state elections 15
o o o A ban on gifts from lobbyists to elected officials The elimination of dark money from the political process The disclosure of financial political campaign support The enforcement of standards of ethical conduct and accountability for elected officials. Ensuring public availability of government information. Abiding by the corporate money ban instituted by the National Democratic Party prohibiting democrats for taking money from industries and entities who work against our interests and the interests of the people of the State of Missouri. Ensuring the right of every Missourian to exercise their constitutional rights to vote without undue burdens. Automatic and same day voter registration. The elimination of voter ID laws and any other regulations that impede voting access. Early voting. 16